Pool with inflatable wall



y 28, 1959 A. J. THOMAS POOL WITH INFLATABLE WALL Filed Jan. 22, 1957 0y fIN VEN TOR.

POOL WITH INFLATABLE WALL Arthur J. Thomas, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 22, 1957, Serial No. 635,542

6 Claims. (c1. 4-172 7 This invention relates to inflatable plastic devices in general and more particularly in inflatable wading pools.

Present inflatable plastic devices must be inflated directly by air pressure supplied either by a mechanical pump, an air pressure source, or by laborious inflation through the lungs which in the case of inflatable wading pools limits the size and use of this otherwise pleasurable device.

In most instances where wading pools are used, a supply of water pressure is usually available which is delivered by the common variety garden hose to fill the pool after the walls of the pool have been inflated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plastic wading pool which does not require laborious effort to inflate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plastic wading pool which does not require a mechanical pump or air pressure source to inflate.

Another object is to provide a wading pool of the above character which automatically inflates itself and fills itself with water.

Another object is to provide a wading pool of the above character which cannot be damaged by over inflation.

Still another object is to provide a wading pool of the above character which is simple in construction and low in manufacturing cost.

Other objectives and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along on the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view-of another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 in Fig. 5.

In the drawings are shown preferred embodiments of the present invention as applied to an inflatable plastic wading pool designated by the numeral 10. The usual chamber 12, when inflated provides an air and water tight surrounding wall 11 which forms the pool or Water retaining enclosure 13 together with the bottom sheet 14 which is bonded to the wall 11 at 15.

An inflating device 16 is shown in Fig. 1 which is bonded to the wall 11 at 17, and may be composed of a suitable flexible plastic. An inlet opening 18 is formed by converging walls 19 and is adapted to receive and retain the various standard garden hose nozzles when forced into inlet 18 by a slight effort. A number of rings 20 provide a grip on the nozzle together with the flexible plastic walls 19. The walls of the inflator 16 pressure at this point.

approximately one half air and water.

constrict at 21 where air passage 22 joins duct 23. Duct 23 passes into the chamber 12 and is communicated thereto by apertures 24. A water passage 25 communicates with the chamber 12 by an opening 26 and extends rearwardly parallel to duct 23 and then turns upwardly parallel to air passage 22 and curves over the wall 11 of the pool 10 so that the upper opening 27 is directed into the retaining enclosure 13.

To inflate and fill the pool, the nozzle of a garden hose is inserted into the inlet 18 and the water is allowed to flow into the inflator 16. As water passes by the constriction 21 it is accelerated in velocity which reduces the This phenomenon is known as the Venturi effect. The reduction in pressure or relative vacuum at this point draws a quantity of air from the atmosphere through the opening 28, through the passage 22, and is inter-mixed with the water so that an air and water mixture enter the chamber 12 through apertures 24. When the chamber 12 is inflated, it contains As the pressure in the chamber 12 increases sufliciently, water which accumulates at the bottom of the chamber, is forced through the opening 26 and through the water passage 25 and out through the upper opening 27 Where it flows into the retaining enclosure 13. As can be seen, as the pool is being filled, the proportion of air within the chamber constantly increases because only water is forced out of the chamber while both air and water enter the chamber.

When the pool is completely filled, the chamber 12 contains approximately ninety percent air. If the water were accidentally left on, the water would merely overflow over the sides of the pool, and not burst the chamber 12. When it is desired to turn off the water, a suitable clamping device such as a laundry clothes pin, may be applied as at 29 to collapse the passages 23 and 25 and prevent air from escaping the chamber. To provide an amusing spray of water, the water may be left on after the passages have been clamped, which will cause the water to flow up air passage 22 and out through opening 28 which is formed at 30 into a spray nozzle.

In Fig. 4 is a modification of the present invention in which water alone inflates the walls of the pool. Water is carried by duct 31 to apertures 32 where it enters and inflates the chamber 12. When suflicient pressure occurs within the chamber 12 to overcome gravity, the water is forced through opening 33, through passage 34, and out through opening 35 where it is directed into the enclosure 13.

In Fig. 5 is still another modification in which water alone inflates the wading pool. Water is carried by duct 40 which contains a baflie 41 beyond which the water passes through the opening 42 and along the lower portion of duct 40 and into chamber 12.

After chamber 12 inflates with sufficient pressure, water is forced out of chamber 12 and along the topportion of duct 40 to the baflle 41 where pressure causes the water to pass up water passage 43 where it is directed into the enclosure 13.

It is obvious that changes in construction and modifications of details can be effected without departing from the scope of the present invention and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use with an inflatable pool including an inflatable, peripheral wall-chamber, a pool-filling and wallinflating device comprising a tubular inlet including a portion at one end for receiving pressurized liquid, said tubular inlet extending into said wall chamber and terminating in an outlet opening adjacent the lower portion of said wall-chamber, and passage means communicating from the lower portion 'of said wall chamber, said passage means terminating exteriorly of said wall chamber and above said outlet opening and directed into said pool.

2. The structure ofclaim l in which said passage means comprises a liquid passage intermediately of said tubular inlet upstream of said outlet opening.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said passage means comprises a passage portion overlying said tubular means within said tubular inlet for causing an increased velocity flow of liquid therein and causing air to be drawn into said wall-chamber through said second passage.

6. The structure of claim 4 including means engageable with tubular inlet and passage portion for closing the same downstream of said second passage whereby liquid will be directed from the tubular inlet directly into said pool.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,070,562 Coyne et al Feb. 16, 1937 2,077,024 Tanner et al Apr. 13, 1937 2,084,236 Babb June 15, 1937 2,399,670 Freygang May 7, 1946 2,616,096 Hasselquist a Nov. 4, 1952 

